Jackie O suffered PTSD after Kyle’s ‘bullying’: doctor

Jackie “O” Henderson was identified as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after working with Kyle Sandilands at KIIS FM, new documents lodged in her lawsuit against the radio station’s owner show.

Henderson herself said Sandilands’ behaviour was “unpredictable and erratic”, causing her to feel “worn down over time” and unsafe in the workplace, according to excerpts of a new affidavit released by the Federal Court on Tuesday.

The expert report by psychiatrist Dr Jonathan Phillips, excerpts of which were included in an updated defence lodged by Henderson’s employer against her lawsuit over the termination of her $100 million contract, made a series of findings about Henderson’s health.

Henderson’s contract was terminated in March after she said she could no longer work with Sandilands following an on-air bust-up two weeks prior, in which he reduced her to the point of tears.

Phillips found she was suffering from PTSD as a result of Sandilands’ bullying, the failure of KIIS owner ARN to protect her, and the publication of a statement to the ASX detailing the termination of her contract.

A separate letter from psychologist Dr Emma Agnew said the pattern of belittling behaviour alleged by Henderson was consistent with “behaviours commonly described as workplace bullying”. The public nature of Sandilands’ alleged conduct, and a perceived lack of support from ARN, “appears to have contributed to a decline in her emotional wellbeing,” Agnew said in a letter dated March 27.

The report from Phillips and the letter from Agnew were cited in ARN’s updated defence to a lawsuit filed by Henderson. Their full text was not made available.

In her affidavit, Henderson alleges a “shift” in the way Sandilands spoke to her on air in 2023, adding that she later felt worn down by Sandilands, with his behaviour contributing to her wanting to “give up”.

“What had previously felt like humour or banter started, at times, to feel different. The comments and putdowns became more pointed and less like they were said in fun and more like they were intended to belittle or humiliate me, and this became more difficult to tolerate over time,” Henderson said.

ARN updated its defence on Tuesday, saying that Henderson was responsible for her own health and safety at work because it hired her via her company, Henderson Media. It used the examples from the expert witnesses Henderson has drawn upon to argue that case.

“If (which is denied) Ms Henderson has incurred pain, suffering, hurt, humiliation, and distress […] such pain, suffering, hurt, humiliation, and distress were caused or contributed to by Henderson Media failing to ensure the health and safety of Ms Henderson whilst performing the Program Services,” it argued in the filings.

In new court filings, the broadcaster argued Henderson Media failed to appropriately notify the company of the ongoing bullying she claims to have suffered.

Henderson’s own legal argument is also expected to, in part, rely on a letter written by Dr Justine Corry – a former clinical psychologist – dating back to July 25 last year, in which Corry details the sustained impact Sandilands’ behaviour was having on her.

ARN disputes Corry’s credentials, arguing she was no longer a medical professional of any kind at this time, and had a commercial relationship with Henderson. Corry, Henderson and her manager Gemma O’Neill were working together to sell a dating and relationships course called “Red Flag Project”, the filings say.

It also says that Corry’s letter was not provided to ARN at the time, and was “deployed for the first time in the context of this litigation”.

Corry also appeared regularly on Henderson’s podcast and on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

ARN also claims that Sandilands and Henderson had been in contact in the days between their on-air blow up on February 20, and when Henderson’s representatives sent the “complaint letter” three days later. That letter alleged that “direct contact with Mr Sandilands is now untenable”.

The radio company claims that letter made clear Henderson and her company were refusing to provide the broadcasting services required under the $100 million contract, “even if the purported safety issues that they identified … were satisfactorily addressed”.

Sandilands declined to comment. ARN and Henderson were contacted for comment.

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